Traction-apron for ditching-machines.



G. S. BROWN. TRACTION APRON FOR DITGHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE19, 1909.

954,252. Patent d Apr.5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q i I57] 7 i ii "a; Q x if? 15- O N 'I'l Z07 Wi /76w 6 3 I @6141. 3ALLA/or WW 0. S. BROWN.

TRACTION APRON FOR DITGHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c. s. BROWN. TRACTION APRON FOB. DITGHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l, 1909. I

954,252, Patented Apr.5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In Venior 4 SHEETS-411E171 4.

G. S. BROWN.

TRACTION APRON FOR DITOHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION PILEDJUNE 19, 1909.

HuhuHF 1 a citizen of the United States, residin CHALMEBS S.'B1 OWN, OFFINDLAY, OHIO.

TRACTION-R3019 FOB, DIQCHING-MACHINES.

' Specification ot Lettei's Patent. Application filed June 19,1909.SerialNo. 503,247.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, CHALMERS S. BROWN, at Findlay, in the county ofHancock and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Traiitio -Aprons for Ditching-Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which'itappertains to make and use the same.

-My invention relates to improvements in traction aprons for ditchingmachines, al-

though'it is not restricted to this specific use.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong and comparativelyinexpensive structure carryingthe traction a ron, which may besubstituted at any time or the ordinary driving wheel of a ditching orsimilar machine.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction andcombinations of parts as-hereinafter described and.

claimed. 3 I

Inthe accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of aditching machine showing my invention applie thereto. Figs. 2 and 2*,which are to be taken together, represent, in side elevation,

. chine of any ordinary or preferred form,

provided with an engine 2, a ditching wheel 3, and supporting standards4.

5 represents the'traction shaft of the ma-.

chine, suitably supported'on the frame. On one end of this tractionshaft is fastened one of the traction wheels, and on the other end ismounted a sleeve 6, attached to a part of the differential gear 7 andhavin keyed to its outer end, by means of the icy 8, the drivingsprocket wheel 9 for the traction apron.

From the construction described, it is clear that the whole traction aron ma be easily removed from the mac ine an' an ordinary traction wheelsubstituted therefor.

Mounted on the sleeve 6 is a long box -10, rectangular in general shapeand referably made of iron or steel. At one en this box is beveledinwardly, as shown at 11, Fig. 2 and to the other end is adjustablyfastened an extension for the urpose of tightening the traction apron.extension consists of a smaller box 12, having a curved extension 13over which the rollers of the traction apron pass, and having extensions15 adapted to fit within the sides 16 of the box 10. Screws 17 passingthrough angle plates 18 and 19, are used or the purpose of adjusting theend 12 inwardly or outwardly. Set screws 20.are also provided forfastening the part 12 to the arms 15. The main box 10 is cut away asshown at 21, to provide access to the heads, of the screws 17.

The traction apron. proper consists of a series of angle bars 22, havingprojecting portions adapted to be engagedby rods 23.

24 represents wearing blocks, preferably of wood, bolted or otherwisesecured to the plates 22. The rods 23 pass over the box 10 and engagethe angle plates on each side of the box.

On each of the rods 23 is mounted a spool 25, having flan ed edges 26,as shown in dotted lines in ig. 3. These flanged edges are adapted totravel outside the sides 16 of the box 10. By this construction a singletrack is provided, and the spools 25 uide the entire traction apron. Thespoo s 25 and the rods 23 may be made in'te ral, if desired, or inseparate parts fastene together In bearings at one end of the box 10 iswheel 28, which is connected b a sprocket chain, indicated by the brokenine 29, with the sprocket wheel 9. On the shaft 27 is mounted a largersprocket wheel 30, provided with teeth 31 adapted to engage successivelythe rollers 25, thereby moving the traction apron. One end of the box 10is open, so that the teeth of this traction wheel may pass therein, andto strengthen the structure I have provided braces 32, runnin down tothe bearings 33,'in which the sha 27 is mounted. Each of the rollers 25,as it passes oil the end of the box 10, will tend to fall, thus insuringthe engagement thereof with one of the teeth on the sprocket wheel 30.

The operation is as follows: When the shaft 5 is revolved by means ofsuitable connections from the engine 2, the'difierential gear 7 drivesthe sprocket wheel 9, which in v to move faster or slower than thedriving wheel, which is fastened to the other end of curved track, angleplates flexibly secured to the shaft 5, said spools .at each endthereof, wearing I claim blocks securedto said plates, and means for 15A traction wheel, comprising a rectangudriving said sprocket wheel,substantially as 5 lar box 0 en at both ends, a sprocket wheeldescribed.

jo'urnaled in bearings on one end of said In testimony whereof, Iafiixmy signature,

box, ail extensim haiying a curgedftratakbadin presence oftwo witnesses.v

justab y secure to t e other en 0 sai ox,

means for adjusting said extension, a series CHALMERS BROWN 10 of flaned spools adapted to travel along and Witnesses: be ui ed by the top andbottom edges of E. V. Born, sai box, by said sprocket wheel, and by saidJOHN MAHONY,

